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Everyone was cheering for the USA
Dawn Ellerbe will compete for the United States in the hammer throw at the 2000 Olympic Games. The 26-year-old and four-time U.S. indoor champion is competing her first Olympics. Check in with Ellerbe throughout the Games.
September 17, 2000
Did you participate in the Opening Ceremonies? The Opening Ceremonies were great! We are living in houses in the Village, and we all had a wonderful time running around getting dressed and helping each other zip this and tuck that. After we finished getting beautiful we all assembled in the street out side of our house. Boy, were we a sight. All red, white and blue in our Olympic glory. It was the best. We got to meet and talk with athletes from almost every U.S. team that is staying in the village. Once we got to the stadium, I was overwhelmed. They put us in a holding area with all the other countries and it seemed as if there were a million people there. We were chanting "USA, USA" and the other countries were chanting about themselves, and it was a big cheering, loud commotion. But the best part of the day was walking out of the holding area and marching our way to the stadium. From the moment we stepped out of the door the crowds went wild. The officials, the police officers, everyone was cheering for the USA! But the most exciting and spectacular thing was walking into the stadium and hearing the crowd go absolutely insane. Their energy even had all of us going crazy. The crowd was awesome and the stadium is unbelievable! What did you think of the cauldron lighting? I got a chance to take pictures with some of the WNBA players as well as the NBA players and that was exciting. When Cathy Freeman walked across the water and lit the torch I got totally emotional, but when the flames rose above her and made there way to the top of the stadium I could not contain myself. Since the trials I have been excited about making the Olympic team, but when they raised the torch, and I was there to see it in person with athletes form all over the world I know I had arrived and I AM AN OLYMPIAN. Every ounce of sweat and everyday I hurt and all the things I have gone through were worth it. There is nothing on earth that has made me feel better than how I feel right now. I am so proud to be one of America's first hammer throwers, and I am training as hard as I possibly can to take myself to the next level. -- Dawn
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